Coronavirus in Stinchcombe

So, today Coronavirus has got to Stinchcombe and we must think about our community and our neighbours. During the following weeks others will be catching this virus and others will be self isolating. This is the time to get to know your neighbours, especially if they are in the higher risk categories, to see what we can do for each other.

Nationally

The government’s aim is to slow down the rate of infection so that the National Health Service is not overwhelmed by a cataclysmic peak in demand like what has happened in Italy.

• People in the high risk categories may wish to keep social interactions to a minimum is the short term future until it is hoped that the rate of infection reduces in the spring.So how about keeping in touch with your neighbours, offering to share an on-line shop, or buy essentials for them.
• People in our community will be catching the virus, so look after them and help.

Locally

At times like this a community should be coming together in the next few weeks.Keeping up to date with information is always a good way basing any response needed so here are a few links to follow:

• The most up-to date number of worldwide cases can be found here:
• The Reddit worldwide community news for all snippets of info here:
• Probably the most comprehensive worldwide map of every single case here:
• The EXCELLENT UK GOV blog here:
• and finally the very good WHO information pages can be found here:

Finally

I hope you find the above useful. Personally I think that so far, the UK Government has reacted just right to the pandemic in measured and clear steps with the experts taking centre stage. I did come across this in my explorations….AN exercise was run last year by Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation…the results were published in OCTOBER 2019 and can be found and downloaded from their website here:

In short it listed the preparedness of the worlds governments to a worldwide pandemic….UK came 2nd!! In front of every other country except one.

VALE HOSPITAL LEAGUE OF FRIENDS

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PATIENT VISITOR?
You could enjoy playing Board or Card Games with stroke patients They might enjoy you reading to them or maybe you would like to help with the Art Therapy workshops Some would like a visitor to chat to them

THE LEAGUE OF FRIENDS IS ORGANISING
AN OPEN MORNING FOR POTENTIAL VOLUNTEERS ON MONDAY 16 MARCH 2020 BETWEEN 10 AM 12 NOON

This will Include an Informal Discussion and a Tour of the Hospital Refreshments will be provided

IF INTERESTED YOU WILL THEN BE ABLE TO SIGN UP TO ANY MORNINGS YOU WISH TO HELP ART THERAPY ONLY ON THURSDAYS) TO ATTEND THE OPEN MORNING PLEASE EMAIL BRAMBLES330@GMAIL.COM SO THAT WE HAVE AN INDICATION OF NUMBERS

STINCHCOMBE VILLAGE
HALL

Charity no. 270121

Stinchcombe Village Quiz Night
on Friday 20^th March at 7.30pm
Stinchcombe Village Hall 

£3 per person, max 6 in a team
Soft drinks and snacks on sale or bring your own alcohol for £1 per head corkage.

No need to pre-book. Call 544611 for more information

This is the time of year
when a band of hardy stalwarts set off in
high-vis jackets clutching black bags and litter-pickers to tidy up the verges
of Stinchcombe. However, it’s been too wet to do anything up to now and by the
time things start to dry out, the new growth, particularly of nettles, will be
well under way making the job too difficult, so this year’s litter-pick has
been cancelled.

However,
that doesn’t mean that the verges have to be a complete mess. there are already
several people in the village who help to keep it tidy by clearing litter near
their homes or while walking their dogs and it would be great if more people
could help in this way. Please could you help keep Stinchcome tidy by picking
up any litter you see near your home or while you’re out and about – and who
knows? Maybe we won’t need to have an organised litter-pick!

The bad news is that
there’s going to be a road closure from the top of Church Lane (i.e, Piers
court) to Churchfield House on Echo Lane, sometime between 23rd March and 17th
April.

The good news is that this is to allow for the
installation of superfast broadband so hopefully it will be worth the inconvenience.

These
are all the details that have been provided at the moment:-

Parish Council Elections

Local elections are scheduled to take place on Thursday 7th May when all of the current Parish Councillors’ terms of office will come to an end. All but one are standing for re-election but there is a vacancy for a new Councillor. If you are at all interested in joining the council and helping to make a difference in the village, please don’t hesitate to contact the Clerk for more details: clerk@stinchcombepc.co.uk or 01453-544611

The Council is happy to welcome Simon Packer who joined in December and is a very welcome addition, but is sorry now to be losing Chris Snellock through pressure of work and thanks him for his valuable contribution over the last four years.